Press with mold platform



Oct. 31, 1950 F. H. HOY 2,528,276

PRESS WITH MOLD PLATFORM Filed OC'G: 30, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm! I 44 hz En/Qr" Hem/z /9. //0r.

iz f Oct. 31, 1950 v F. H. HOY 2,528,276

PRESS WITH MOLD PLATFORM Filed 0a.. :50, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 III III WWW hVEH/Uf'" film/v4: H. //or.

Oct. "31, 1950 F. H. HOY

PRESS WITH MOLD PLATFORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 00%. 30, 1944 l l W 'llll elevation; I

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken i Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Equipment Company, Milwaukee,

poration of L Wisconsin Application October 30, 194%, Serial No. 560,983

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a press having a mold platform.

More particularly, the invention relates to a press with an integral mold platform, for molding materials such as luncheon meats, boned ham and the like. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a press haying atmold platform and ram so disposed relative to each other that substantially the same pressure is applied to the material in each mold.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a press adapted for mounting-on a wall and having a mold platform holding amold in fixed height relation in the press.

It is another object of the invention to provide .a press actuated and released by a novel pawl and ratchet'arrangement.

Itis also an object of this invention to provide a molding press in which the rack bar of a rack and pinion arrangement serves as the ram, pawl and ratchet means being provided to rotate the pinion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide apres's having a platform with variable 1.;

the. present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from thefollowing and the appended drawings.

In the drawings; 1 Figure l is a front elevational-view of the press of this invention with a mold positionedtherein; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the press,

description taken from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line III--III of Figure 1, with parts in on the line IV- IV of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4,. but

showing the parts in disengaging position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view on-the 1ine-VIIVII of Figure .1, with parts in el vat on and t emqld m ved? i Wis., a corthe press of this invention is shown and described as mounted on a wall, but it Will be obvious that it might be otherwise mounted.

The press is mounted on a frame comprising a pair of spaced channel members l0 and II of suitable 'materia-l, such as steel, each having flanges I2 and I3. Th press may be mounted on a wall W by bolting or otherwise securing the flanges l2 thereto, as'shown in Figure 2. The flange l2 and adjacent portion of the web of each member ID and H are continuous, while an intermediate portion of the flange l3 and the adjacent web are cut ,away as indicated ,at M. From one of the channel members, as H, near the upper portion thereof, extends a bracket 15 having a horizontal arm 15a paralleling the web of the member H. Another arm l5b of the bracket 15 is disposed between and parallel to the web of the member II and the arm l5a, and with its end slightly above the arm [5a. A brace [5c may be provided extending from the member II to the bottom edge of the arm ltia.

A shaft I6 has one end secured in the web of the member l0 and the other extending through the arm l5a of the bracket IS. The shaft 16 is held against rotation in any suitable manner. Journalled on the shaft i6 is .a pinion ll disposed in the space between the members) and H. Also journalled on the shaft 16 adjacent the bracket arm [5a is a ratchet wheel I8. Connecting the pinion l1 and the ratchet wheel [8 and holding the same in fixed relationto each other of the bracket arm is a hub or sleeve l9. A suitable apertur (not shown) may be provided inthe member U for convenience in assembling the shaft l6, pinion I1 and sleeve [9 in the press.

A lever 20 is secured in a lever socket member 2| pivoted on the shaft [6. Integrallyformed with the socket member 2-1 are an upper fork arm 2 la inwardly of the socket member in spaced relation thereto, and a lower forkrarm 211) outwardly of the socket member and also in spaced parallel relation thereto. Between the arm Zia and'thesocket member 2!; is a pawl member 22 pivoted on a-pinor bolt 23 extending through the arm Zia and socket member 2|. The pawl member 22 is aligned with the ratchet wheel [8 for engagement with the teeth thereof. The end Ilia extends between the socket member 2! and the lower fork arm 2Ib,

P -andthe socket member 2] is thus held against direction, as viewed in Figure 3.

3 movement axially of the shaft 15. extends through the arm 2th.

The pawl member 22 has a forward pawl tooth portion 22a and a rearward extension forming a curved camming portion 22b. A keeper or detent pawl member 24 is pivotally secured to the bracket arm l5b as by a bolt 25. The forward end of the detent pawl member 24 is notched to provide a lower detent pawl tooth portion 24a The shaft l 6 and an upper detent releasing portion 24b. The

detent pawl member 24, of course, is aligned with the pawl member 22 and the ratchet wheel l8. Upon upward and rearward movement of the lever 29, th pawl member 22 is moved rearwardly to bring the camming portion 221) into contact with the releasing portion 24b of the detent member, and continued rearward movement results in the portion 22b camming the detent releasing portion 24b upwardly, thereby raising the detent pawl tooth 24a out of engagement with the ratchet wheel l8 and releasing the latter for rotation in either direction.

' Suitable biasing means, such as the springs 22c and 240, may be employed to urge the pawl members 22 and 24 respectively into engagement with the ratchet wheel i8.

It will be obvious that oscillation of the lever and pawl tooth 22a. about the shaft It, without bringing the portion 22b into camming relation with the detent pawl releasing portion 241), will rotate the ratchet wheel I8 and with it the pinion I! in a. clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, or counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 2.

A guide plate 26 is secured by bolts or in any other suitable manner to the outer or forward faces of the flanges I3 above the cut-out portion I4. Upper and lower guide blocks 2? and 28, respectively, are secured between the members In and H, one above'and one below the pinion ll. The guide plate 26 and guide blocks 2? and 28 form with the webs of the members it and II a guideway in which is disposed for longitudinal movement a rack bar 29, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the pinion ii. The

"rack bar 29 serves as a ram for the press, and

is moved downwardly for its pressing stroke by rotation of the pinion in a counter-clockwise A presser plate 30 is secured to the bottom or pressing end of the rack bar 29.

To the upper end of the rack bar 29 is secured a, piston 3| comprising a rigid disk 32, a flexible washer 33 of leather or similar material and a rigid Washer 34, the flexible washer 33 being clamped between the disk 32 and the washer 34 5 by any suitable means, such as nuts 35 screwed on the end of the piston extension 36 of the rack bar 29.

Secured to the upper edges of the guide plate ,26, guide block 21, and members It] and II by Welding or any other suitable manner is a plate 31 with an aperture 38 through which the rack bar 29 extends, and secured to the apertured plate 31 is a cylinder base plate 39 having a 'secured to the base plate 39 by screwing into the collar 40.

3, the cylinder 42 receives the piston 35 therein with a snug fit as to the flexible washer 33.

The plates 3? and 39 may be secured As will be evident from Figure On the upper end of the cylinder 42 is screwed an apertured cross-head plate 43, and a cap 44 4 having a restricted vent opening 45 is also screwed on the upper end of the cylinder 42 over the plate 43. The cap 44 closes the upper end of the cylinder except for the vent 45. Depending from the plate 43 are hooks 46, and extending upwardly from the upper surface of the presser plate 30 are similar hooks 41. Between each hook 46 and a corresponding hook 4'! extends a spring 48. Two such springs are shown, although it will be obvious that the number of springs employed may vary. The springs 48 bias the presser plate 30 and rack bar 29 upwardly, and cause retraction thereof when the rack bar 29 is not held against upward movement. It will be obvious that the piston 3| and cylinder 42 comprise a dash pot arrangement to cushion the retraction or return stroke of the rack bar 29 under the action of the springs 48.

The flanges 13 adjacent the springs 48 are reduced, and the plates 31 and 39 have their edges recessed adjacent the springs 48, so as to clear the springs and prevent binding or scraping thereof.

Secured to the upper edges of the members It and H and flanges 13 at the cut-out portions M is a bed or mold platform 49 substantially centered beneath the rack bar 29 and presser plate 30. At the rear portion of the platform 49 and adjacent the side edges thereof a plurality of apertures 50 is provided. shouldered pins 5! may be inserted in these apertures to act as stops or positioning means for a receptacle containing material to be pressed, such as the mold 52. The number and location of the apertures 50 may of course be varied as desired or as dictated by the different dimensions of varying receptacles employed with the press. As shown in Figure '7, the pins 5! are placed in apertures 59 so that two rear pins are engaged by the rear wall of a container indicated by the dash line, and a side pin is engaged by each side of the receptacle, which is thus centrally positioned beneath the presser plate 30 and held against accidental displacement from that position. The dotted lines in Figure 7 indicate the insertion of the pins 5| in others of the apertures 50 for the positioning of a longer and narrower receptacle than that indicated by the dash line.

Pins 53 may be provided on the upper surface of the presser plate 30 for the securement of spring lifting levers 54. These levers 54 are employed to stretch and position springs utilized to hold a mold and a cover or follower together under spring pressure, so as to hold the meat or other material in the mold under a desired pressure while it is being processed.

The spring lifting levers 54 each comprise a fulcrum portion 55 having a tubular portion 55 at one end and having'pivotally secured at the other end an end of a lever arm 51 which may have a suitable handle or grip portion (not shown) at its other end. A yoke or forked member 58 has its arms straddling the lever arm 51 with a roller 59 rotatably mounted between the upper ends of the yokearms to roll on the upper surface of the lever arm 57. Depending from the bight of the U-shaped' or yoke member 58 is a hook 60. The spring lifting lever 54 is mounted on the press byslipping the tubular portion 56 over the pin 53, and it may be secured on the pin 53 in any suitable manner, as by a cotter pin 6i.

-ing lever 54 may rotate about the pin 53.

It will be obvious that the lift- The use of the spring lifting levers 54 is most lea ly i st ated in Fi ure 6, Th mold 5:

containing material. Mtto be pressed, such .as *a boned-"ham; is provided with a verticaltubular guidet'sleeve. ;at...each..end,. indicated at 62. A cover; memberffiii; is inserted-in the mold on the material. M.. Secured to the upper surface of the cover member 63. in spaced relation thereto is a pressing bar; 64- longer than the mold, so that the ends thereof extend beyond the ends of the moldandbeyond the guide sleevesz62; Adjacent each. end the pressing bar 6 1 has a depending guide stud 65havin'g .a,.S1idiI1g fit in the guide sleeve. .62.- A slot 66 is formed in each end of theiprressing bar .64.

At each end of the mold 52, .a spring. 61 has one end..61a hooked in the bottom end of the guidersleeve: 62,.andits other end formed as a loop 611) surmounting a straight'portion 61c extending from the coils, cfuthe spring. After the materiaLMrhaszbeen. compressed by a press acting on the-covermember 53. through the pressure bar E14;:,it..is maintained. under desired pressure by stretching springs 551 to slide the straight portions 61c of the springs into the slots 65 with the loopsflb bearingon the upper edges of the slots. Thi'sis clearly shown at theleft in Figure 6.

At the right in Figure 6, the operation of the spring lifting lever Ed in accomplishing the desired positioning of the spring 61 is clearly shown. The lever arm 51 is lowered as may be necessary and the hook 68 is engaged in the loop 61b. The lever arm 51 is then raised, thus SEIGtChingthE spring -61 sufiiciently to bring the loop 612) above the upper surface of the presser bart'fid. The straight portion Glc of the spring and the slot 6E5 are brought intoalignment by rotation of the lever 5 about the pin if necesary. The inclination of the lever arm 5? when the desired height is reached, and the tension of the spring .tLresult in theflyoke member 58 moving toward the fulcrum portion 55, bymeans of the roller 59. 'This movement of the yoke mem-- ber. 58 carries .the straight portion Me of the spring into the slot 66, and the hook Gil may now be removed. from the loop. 611), sincethe tension ofthe spring is now borne by the loop engaged above the slot. 1

a The operation .-.of the press should be clear from pthe, foregoing description, With the ram or rack: bar 2.9'and its presser plate 38 .in retracted position, the ratchet may be operated torotate. the pinion H. in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure'3, thus moving the presserv plate .30 downwardly until the extreme pressing. position is reached. .The engagement of the disk 32 of the piston 3| against the plate 3 1:;limits'lthe downward movement.

The: ratchet arrangement of course, permits the presser plate 39. to be moved downwardly to any point between itsretracted and .extreme pressing positions, but a feature of this invention is the uniformity of pressure achieved by means of the fixed molding platform 49 and the movement of the presser plate to its extreme pressing position'above the platform. Regardless of differences in strength of press operators,

uniform pressure is applied to the material M.v

As the presseriplatesll moves downwardly, it .engagesthepresser bar .64 of the 'mold cover member 63 arranged inrelation to the mold as previously described, and compresses the mate- I plate 3.9 has reached its extremepressing position the material M is under the desired prespressure isapplied to a given quantity of mate I sure. :Thetsprings .61- maysthen be applied as already described, and theratchet lever 20v moved clockwise: as viewed 'in Figure 2 to release the detent pawl 24a as previously described, thus permitting' retraction ofthe presserplate 30 by the springs 48. The mold with its cover member may then be removed and conveyed to apparatus for processing the material M.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention andit is, therefore, not the purpose to limitithe patent granted hereon other wise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim-is:

1. A press comprising a pair of supports, a bracket on'one of said supports, a platform carried by said supports and permanently fixed thereto, a rack bar, a pinion meshing with said rack bar, aratchet wheel mounted for co-rotation with said pinion, a lever pivoted to said bracket, a pawl pivoted on said lever to actuate said ratchet wheel, a releasable keeper pivoted. to said bracket normally engaging said ratchet wheel, resilient means biasing said rack bar toward retracted position, a dashpot cylinder having a vent opening, a piston on said rack bar reciprocable in said cylinder, stop means including said piston adapted to keep 'therack bar from going past the-full pressing position, and a plate on the pressing end of said rack bar spaced fromsaidplatform when the rack bar is in full pressing position.

'2. A mold press comprising a support, a table fixed on said support to hold a mold containing material tobe pressed, a ram, a presser plate on one end of said ram, a cylinder with a closed end having a vent therein, a piston on the other end of said-ramworking in said cylinder, means for moving said ram to extreme pressing position, and means including said piston limiting said pressing movement to hold said presser plate spaced from said table when said ram is in its extreme pressing position, whereby the same rial upon each operation of the press.

3. A press comprising support means including 'a pair of spaced members, a cover plate bridging the space between said members, a pair of spaced blocks between said members having aligned faces parallel to said cover plate, said members, cover plate and blocks providing a guideway, a rack bar disposed in said guideway, a pinion disposed between said blocks engaging said rack bar, means to rotate said pinion to 'move the rack bar in one direction, resilient means to move the rack bar in the other direction, a dashpot cylinder adjacent one end of the rack bar, a piston in said cylinder secured to said end, a" presser plate on the other end of the rack bar, and a mold platform on said support means disposed parallel to said presser plate, said platform having adjustable means for positioning a receptacle containing material to be pressed.

4. In a press, in combination, support means with a platform permanently attached thereto; a reciprocable ram, means to move said ram to pressing position, detent means to prevent movement of the ramto retracted position, means to releasesaid detent means, biasing said ram toward retractedpositionand operable upon release of said detent means to move the ram to retracted position, means to cushion retracting movement of the ram including a dashpot cylinder and a piston in said cylinder rigidly connected to said ram, and stop means adjacent said cylinder engageable by said piston to limit pressing movement of said ram.-

5. A molding press comprising a support structure, a platform carried by said structure to support a mold, adjustable locating means on said platform to position a mold thereon, a guideway in said structure, a ram perpendicular to said platform extending through said guideway, gear teeth on said ram, a pinion meshing with said ram gear teeth, a ratchet wheel secured to said pinion for corotation therewith, a first pawl member for rotating said ratchet wheel in one direction to impart pressing movement to said ram, a second pawl member for holding the ratchet wheel against rotation in the other direction, said first pawl member being engageable with said second pawl member to move the same for permitting movement of the ratchet wheel in either direction, resilient means to retract said ram upon said movement of said second pawl member, a cylinder on said support structure remote from said platform, a piston on said ram working in said cylinder to cushion retraction of the ram, and an abutment between the cylinder and the platform engageable by said piston upon pressing movement of the ram to terminate said pressing movement short of said platform.

6. In a press, in combination, a ram, means to impart pressing movement to said ram, means to retract said ram, a presser plate on the pressing end of said ram, a platform below said presser plate to receive a receptacle containing material to be pressed, adjustable means on said platform to position a receptacle beneath said presser plate, a lever pivotally mounted on said presser plate for rotation in a plane parallel thereto and also in a plane normal thereto, and catching means carried on said lever freely movable longitudinal thereof, said lever and catching means cooperating to apply to said receptacle when positioned on said platform after the material therein has been pressed resilient means under tension for maintaining the material under pressure.

7. In a press, in combination, a pressing element, means for actuating said element, means for retracting said element, a press bed having adjustable positioning means to hold in desired relation to said pressing element a receptacle of material to be pressed having a cover member,. a lever mounted on said pressing element for rotation parallel to and also normal to said press bed, and engaging means freely movable on said lever and coacting therewith to apply resilient means under tension to said receptacle and cover to maintain said material under pressure, said pressing element and said positioning means maintaining said receptacle in position during the operation of said lever and engaging means.

8. In a press for compacting meat in a molding pan, a supporting platform having a top surface on which a molding pan may be placed, a ram above the platform for insertion in the open side of the pan, said platform including adjustable means for positioning the pan in alignment with the ram, a stop means attached to said ram to terminate pressing movement short of said platform, a jack mechanism connecting to said ram, and bracket means extending upward from, permanently attached thereto, and carrying said platform and on which said stop means,

ram and jack mechanism are carried, said bracket means being formed for attachment to a wall to locate the platform and jack mechanism ata height suitable for ready manual manipulation of the pan and of the jack mechanism.

9. In a press, a movable platen, means for actuating said platen, and for retracting said platen, a mold platform, an adjustable positioning means on said platform to position a receptacle beneath said platen, said receptacle adapted to contain material to be pressed, resilient means for holding the material in a compressed condition after the pressing operation, means on said receptacle for attachably receiving said resilient means,

r and means carried by said movable platen for assisting in the attaching of said resilient means to said receptacle.

10. In a press, in combination, a ram, means for imparting pressing movement to said ram, and for retracting said ram, a pressure plate on the pressing end of said ram, a platform below said pressureplate to receive a receptacle adapted to contain material to be pressed, adjustable means on said platform to position a receptacle beneath said pressure plate, a resilient means and a movable element mounted on said pressure plate for swinging movement relative to said plate, said movable element being operable to apply said resilient means to said receptacle on said platform after the material therein has been pressed, for maintaining the pressed material under resilient pressure after retraction of said pressure plate.

11. In a press, in combination, a movable platen, means for actuating said platen, and for retracting said platen, a mold platform, adjustable positioning means on said mold platform, a receptacle for material to be pressed having a cover member, said adjustable positioning means holding said receptacle in desired relation to said movable platen, a movable element mounted on said movable platen having engaging means thereon, and a resilient means, said movable element and said engaging means coacting to apply said resilient means under tension to said receptacle and cover to maintain said pressed material under resilient pressure after retraction of said platen and said positioning means also centerin said receptacle to receive said resilient means under tension.

12. In a press including a support on which work to be compressed can be carried and a movable platen for engaging and compressing said work, means carried by the movable platen operable after the pressing operation for engaging spring means with the work to resiliently hold said work in its compressed condition, said means including a movable element on the platen, and a resilient element attached to one end of the work and movable by said moving element into engagement at its other end with the work to hold the work in compressed condition upon retraction of the platen, said support having positioning means for maintaining said work in desired relation to said movable platen and also maintaining said work in desired relation to receive said resilient holding means.

13. In combination in a mold press, a support .adapted for mounting on a wall or the like, a table on said support, a mold on said table adapted to receive material to be pressed, adjustable means on said table to retain said mold in a predetermined relation thereto, cooperable gear elements, means including a fluid pressure cylinder connected to a first $5 1. element, a

presser plate connected to a second gear element,

means for rotating said second gear element in one direction to move said presser plate toward said table, other means including said first gear to move said presser plate away from said table, means including said cylinder for limiting said pressing movement and to hold said presser plate spaced from said table when said second gear element is in extreme pressing position so that the same pressure is applied to a given quantity of material in the mold upon each operation of the press, a movable element on said plate having engaging means thereon, a resilient element, and means on said mold to receive said resilient element, said movable element and said engaging means cooperable in the attaching of said resilient member under tension to said mold to hold said material in compressed condition upon retraction of the presser plate, said adjustable means on said table positioning said mold so as to be in proper relation to said presser plate and also in proper'relation to said means for attaching said resilient element under tension.

14. A press including a support on which work to be compressed can be carried, a movable platen for engaging and compressing said work, lever means carried by the movable platen and a clamping means operable by the lever means after the pressing operation for engaging the clamping means with the Work to hold the work in a compressed condition, said clamping means including a spring element attached to one end of the work and movable by said moving lever into engagement at its other end with the work to resiliently hold the work in a compressed condition upon retraction of the platen.

15. In a press, a movable platen, means for actuating said platen and forretracting said platen, a mold platform directly :beneath said movable platform for receiving a receptacle adapted to retain the material to be pressed, linkage means for holding material in a compressed condition after the pressing operation, means on said receptacle for attachably receiving said linkage means, and means carried by said movable [platen for assisting in the attaching of said linkage means to said receptacle.

FRANK H. HOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 246,350 Stover Aug. 30, 1881 325,038 Barmore Aug. 25, 1885 450,882 Christie Apr. 21, 1891 643,296 Jarolimek Feb. 13, 1900 703,468 Quimby July 1, 1902 1,216,689 Hey Feb.20, 1917 1,230,200 Morey June 19, 1917 1,624,808 Scholten Apr. 12, 1927 1,755,403 Manley Apr. 22, 1930 1,792,411 Butz Feb. 10, 1931 1,862,326 Altice June '7, 1932 1,889,167 Anderson Nov. 29, 1932 2,244,540 Lenzke June 3, 1941 2,251,893 Snell Aug. 5, 1941 2,310,956 Hoy Feb. 16, 1943 2,372,021 Seiden Mar. 20, 1945 

